The Tech Deck

Giving the phrase "video game nerds" brand new meaning, flash game "Science Kombat" combines the best of your textbooks with the thrill of 2-D fighting.

There is a fourth hidden genre of games. One that is more potent, accessible and unbound. Instead of bending players to fit its universe, this genre is designed to kowtow to the will of the players. It is the generic. It is the universal. All are one in this game genre. The only restriction is imagination.

Atari has released a cutesy version of its 1980 arcade classic as part of its remastered collection.

In the cold darkness of corporation-run space, there are only PCs and NPCs. Laws sometimes apply and technology is occasionally called magic or biotics. Things are pretty awesome but often in a terrible way. Science fiction gives us a glimpse into what might come to be and I love it dearly. Here are some Sci-Fi games you might not have heard of.

The passive pastime has never been more fraught with peril.

The first piece of downloadable content for Fallout 4 scratches my itch to return to the Commonwealth, but only for a weekend's worth of game time.

Not every game takes place in a far off land…in space…with elves… Some take place here and now, sometimes there’s magic, sometimes Germany won WW2, sometimes you’re a few years in the past as little kids, and sometimes it’s just you as the world comes to an end. Regardless, we live in interesting times and they shouldn’t be ignored.

Indie shoot-em-up Broforce, from South African developer Free Lives, oozes with personality the moment you press start. But its mechanics, load times and frame rate hiccups mar an otherwise solid shooting experience.

The oft-maligned practice of bullfighting came to arcades in an era where cabinets tasked you with all kinds of crazy roles.

If you dream of the clashing of swords, the searing fire of a dragon, and the rise and fall of kingdoms, then perhaps you’d enjoy an RPG in a fantasy themed setting. It just so happens I’ve got a list of my favorite ones right here in this blog post.

Before Call of Duty, there was Medal of Honor. Electronic Arts' first-person shooter franchise, which spent most of its time in the World War II era, released Pacific Assault in 2003 focused on the eastern campaign. You can download it for free from EA's Origin service.

Isometric shooting at its arcade finest, Zaxxon was an early title from Sega lauded for its early graphics and gameplay.

The skiing season is almost over in the Inland Northwest, but you can still get your kicks on the slopes with this 1991 classic that shipped with the Microsoft Entertainment Pack.

No, not Minesweeper. This dual-stick arcade classic from Stern Electronics puts you in the cockpit of a battle tank besieged by air and ground enemies, as well as the titular mines.

In the world of remasters, Naughty Dog's treasure-hunting, continent-hopping Uncharted series offers new initiates a treasure trove's worth of fun.

We've got something a little different for you this week. In the style of the mash-up, indie developers from StabYourself.net created "MariO," a mix between Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. and Valve's Portal. Yes, you want to play it.

French Romance novels aren't usually the stuff of video games. But that's exactly why you inherit the role of Quasimodo in this 1983 arcade title.

Electronic Arts has released the 2012 open-world entry in the racing franchise as part of its "On the House" promotion.

Beware the Werearmadillo! - A Dwarf Fortress tale

If you like Zelda, but think the dialogue is a bit too dry, then Dink Smallwood may be for you. The 1998 action RPG follows the exploits of a modest pig farmer trying to save his world, and a high definition version can be downloaded for free today!

Oh, the joys of product placement and cross-promotion. This Sega Game Gear platformer put you in the shoes and gloves of 7-Up's mascot, designed to make the fizzy drink appealing to youngsters.

Treyarch's latest entry in the blockbuster shooting franchise "Call of Duty" ends with a puzzling sequence of firefights that shows the dissonance between what developers are trying to do and what their audience demands of them.

We highlighted Commander Keen a few weeks ago. Now, download for free another sidescroller built on its engine, "Bio Menace," from the folks at Great Old Games!